2022 OMF All Program Announcement
Born in 1992 (then as the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto), the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival marks its 30th anniversary this year. This will be the first festival in three years, having been cancelled consecutively in 2020 and 2021. In this milestone anniversary year, the festival will be held for 28 days, from Saturday, August 13, through Friday, September 9. Not only that, after the summer this year, we will hold a special concert in November as well.
Please see Program pages for each programs information. Tickets go on sale on June 11 (Sat) 10:00 AM (JPT).
While prudently implementing measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19, we are preparing to deliver the best in performances to venues in Matsumoto and Nagano Cities.
After having done concert tours in the West since 1987, good fortune brought the Saito Kinen Orchestra and me to establish Matsumoto as our home and launch the festival in 1992. We mark our 30th anniversary this year.
I still vividly remember the apprehension of the first year. We boldly filled the stage of the freshly-built Matsumoto Bunka Kaikan (now Kissei Bunka Hall) with water in its inauguration with Oedipus Rex, which won an Emmy Award in the US. I was also amazed at how fans set up tents to camp out by the booths before tickets went on sale. The many concerts with the Saito Kinen Orchestra, which is my musical family, and the many innovative and ambitious opera productions all hold special memories for me, such as the outdoor opera (La damnation de Faust) held in the garden of Matsumoto Castle, the 1000 Voices chorus, and joint concerts with the children of Matsumoto. The festival was welcomed by the majestic nature and warm people of Matsumoto, and I am truly delighted that this has continued for 30 years. I am thankful anew for the support of audiences and the local Matsumoto community.
The orchestra concert in the first year opened with Ceremonial, for which the festival commissioned Toru Takemitsu. The orchestra concert this year again will start with Ceremonial. I believe that this will be a special concert that links the past 30 years to the coming 30 years. This year, we will also hold special autumn concerts in November to celebrate our 30th anniversary.
I invite you to enjoy our festival this summer in Matsumoto, and in November in Nagano as well. The Saito Kinen Orchestra members and I look forward to seeing you.
Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival Director